That familiar cry of "Press!" echoed through York city centre once again as a legendary news vendor made a one-off return to sell the final Evening Press of the old Millennium.

SALE OF THE CENTURY: Les Richardson, back in his familiar spot in St Helen's Square to sell the final Press of the old Millennium.

Applause from passers-by greeted Les Richardson as he came out of retirement to take up his old pitch in St Helen's Square which he graced for more than half a century.

People queued up to take a photo, shake his hand, give him a kiss on the cheek and, of course, buy a paper from him - as always, Les, who received the MBE a year ago, doffed his flat cap after every sale.

Some just stood to watch as Les, aged 83, undaunted by all the attention, got down to making brisk business and shouting out that immortal line.

As of old, baffled tourists walked past, asking what Les was shouting, wanting to know why the attention of so many people was devoted to just one man. And those who knew Les were delighted to tell them.

Jacqueline and Peter Brown, from Stockton Lane, York, have known Les for years and bought papers from him since the 1950s.

Jacqueline said: "His cry of "Press!" is just the same as it always was. It's never changed. It's great that he's come back. Bless him, he's lovely," she beamed.

Meanwhile, Diane Allinson, who works at Nestl, gave Les a kiss and said: "He is marvellous. My mother knew him and she's 90. They really should put up a plaque or a statue to him here."

Les himself was delighted by the reaction he got, but refused to be carried away by the wealth of acclaim he received.

"I'm only doing this once more, you see. I've been practising and it's great to see all my old friends."

Evening Press editor Liz Page, who nominated Les for his MBE, said: "Les is a remarkable person who has achieved worldwide fame through the very ordinary activity of being a newspaper street seller.

"What better way for the Evening Press to end the old Millennium than being sold by the man who for so long built up a loyal following."

Les himself is enjoying retirement as the new Millennium gets under way, living at Grove House, a home for the elderly in The Groves.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.